Book Review: The Byron Journals by Daniel Ducrou

The Byron Journals tracks the questionable, alternative lifestyles of a group of young adults in Byron Bay. His skilled writing paints a languid, summery tone that is undercut with the uncertainty of growing up and the bittersweet trial of identifying ourselves. The dialogue is conversational, plot realistic, and the characters are full of depth and humanity; together, they oscillate into crafting an honest and perceptive novel that looks into the mind of a new generation regarding sex, drugs, and music.

Ducrou gives some firsthand detail to the environment of Byron Bay. His portrait is clear in the reader’s mind and the swelling heat, the passion in the air, the music vibrating through the streets come alive with his words. I found the novel not so much about growing up as it is about learning to forgive ourselves and others and letting go of the past. Ducrou hints that the two are closely intertwined: we can’t begin to let go and move on until we’ve found forgiveness. The realization of that notion might be the first step. Andrew arrives in Byron Bay to escape problems at home. There he parts with his mates and meets Heidi, who has also run away to Byron. While their experiences in Byron help mask the issues that brought them there, the past haunts them like a shadow, and it’s with them always.

Daniel Ducrou has an excellent debut novel. His writing is fresh and powerfully authentic. He stirs the pot with the twists and turns and bad decisions only confused, experimental teenagers make. I started reading this novel seeing comparisons to John Green’s “Looking for Alaska,” another bildungsroman about regret, forgiveness, and looking for life-changing experiences. The particular similarity was in Alaska and Heidi. Both were troubled, guilt-ridden girls. But as the novel progressed, the two novels’ differences showed and I began to appreciate Ducrou’s book for what it is. This is a valuable addition to Australian literature. I look forward to his next.

Book Review: Interworld by Neil Gaiman and Michael Reaves

There is an unmistakable, and probably justified, prejudice against children’s novels being enjoyable for adult tastes. I mean there are surely good kid books, from beloved classics like “Heidi” or “Daddy Long Legs” to modern tales like the Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter series. But overall, adults don’t read children’s books and there is a good reason for that. Not to say that they’re all crap, but the black-and-white morality, simplistic storylines, and straightforward character interactions tend to conflict with the expectations of an adult world and the preferences of an adult mindset.

Joey Harker, an average boy, discovers he is a Walker, a being with an ability to cross from Earth to another in an endless continuum of alternate universes. As soon as he discovers his ability, he is targeted by the forces of magic and science who want to strip him, and alternate versions of Harker across the multiverse, of his Walking ability to fuel their ships. Harker is recruited by an organization called InterWorld, operated by different versions of Harker, which seeks to maintain balance between magic and science.

“Interworld” is a children’s novel. The storyline is simple, almost formulaic, but the way in which Gaiman and Reaves write the story make it feel more than going through the motions. There is real excitement in how they portray their universe (or universes, to be clear). The villains are cartoonish and there is never a sense of moral ambiguity amongst the characters or in their decisions. Evil is evil, no matter in what world you’re on. I think that is perhaps the book’s greatest flaw.

What makes up for it though is Gaiman and Reaves’ excellent worldbuilding skills. The mythology underlying “Interworld” is impeccable and captivating. They construct a fantastic universe that seems a shame not to return to. Despite the concept of alternate universes, the authors allude to pop culture and history with great ease. There are numerous references to popular events, some of which a thirteen-year-old reader should have no appreciation for. Likewise, Gaiman and Reaves make fantastic use of clever fantasy tropes and high scientific concepts, both fictional and real. They do not underestimate their readers’ capacity to understand ideas, a notion which seems to escape many children’s writers today.

Day 26: Drawing of the Three by Stephen King

The second entry in Stephen King’s magnum opus series, the drawing that takes place brings Roland Deschain through three doors on the sands of the beach across time and space to different points in 20^th Century New York City. Through two of these doors, Roland recruits members of his new ka-tet, who will become gunslingers like him. This was the first book I read of the Dark Tower series and is probably my favourite. I loved the character of Eddie Dean, the junkie, and his character arc has remained one of the most memorable.

Day 25: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I sometimes hate low late I am at getting around to reading these really good books that you feel like everyone else has already devoured. It’s like coming really late to a party, except you’re not fashionable and all the good food is gone. “American Gods” is quite phenomenal in Gaiman’s manner of handling the deities and belief systems. Shadow is a relatable protagonist with an uncanny ability to take all the wonderful, remarkable, and terrible stuff that happens to, and around him, in stride. The premise of the novel is essentially that when immigrants landed in America, they brought along the mythological deities that they worshipped, but when they forgot or began to disbelief in these old gods, their powers began to wane, yet they remained in the New World, stranded and abandoned by their followers. The fascinating exploration of religions and worship, the clever writing, and the powerful execution make this a truly classic read.

Day 24: The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

This is JK Rowling’s first novel since she completed her epic and unforgettable Harry Potter series, as well as her first for an adult audience. this novel combines a small town atmosphere with thrilling political intrigue. Here’s to hoping she continues to exceed expectations and shine through with another literary doorstopper.

Day 23: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll is a genius of nonsense fiction. “Wonderland” tells the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a hole into a strange world called Wonderland whilst chasing after a white rabbit. This is the epitomizing example of the nonsense genre in literature. Before “Alice” the art of creating meaningless and yet entertaining had never happened. Perhaps it never will again.

Day 22: Superman/Batman: Supergirl Vol. 2 by Jeph Loeb

Jeph Loeb and artist Michael Turner join to usher in the classic Supergirl’s return to the primary DC Universe continuum. This story is as much about Supergirl’s first experiences on Earth as it is about the tension and interactions between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight. Loeb’s writing is at its finest, while his plotting is wrought with tension and suspense. I have to give the late Michael Turner his share of credit for drawing some amazing panels. He has a way for drawing women and depicting epic battle scenes. The dialogue Loeb wrote between Superman and Darkseid in their final confrontation was fantastic and believable. This is good writing meets good art. What more can you ask for?

                                                    

Day 21: Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse

  

Steppenwolf (Der Steppenwolf), by Hermann Hesse, is an existential novel about the loneliness of a man torn between two aspects of his soul and his displacement between periods of history. Originally published in Germany in 1927, the first English translation was in 1929. Utilizing both autobiographical and psychoanalytic elements, the novel takes its name after the solitary “wolf of the steppes”. The story expresses Hesse’s profound spiritual crisis, while portraying the protagonist’s split between his civilized humanity and his barbaric, wolfish discord and homelessness. Hesse would later claim that the book was largely misunderstood.

Day 20: Fables Vol 1 by Bill Willingham

This hardcover collects “Legends in Exile” and “Animal Farm,” introducing a host of characters that populate the Fables universe along with the two primary communities of the Fables on Earth: Fabletown and the Farm. Each chapter tackles a different genre as it explores the relationships between these immortal characters and their varied and often misinterpreted histories. Willingham’s writing is clever and witty and the stories are beyond phenomenal. Often his take on the fables are unique; he enjoys twisting and turning our expectations for these characters. For example, Prince Charming is a divorced, promiscuous womanizer with an insurmountable ego, Snow White is the deputy mayor of Fabletown, and Bigby Wolf, the sherrif, is the shapeshifting Big Bad Wolf of infamy. This is easily my favourite ongoing comic book.

Day 19: The Rules of Attraction by Bret Easton Ellis

“The Rules of Attraction” offers a dark and satirical take on the upper-middle-class college student culture. Set in the fictional college town of Camden, New Hampshire, the novel is narrated in first-person by the sexually students, in particular, revolving around three: Paul, Sean, and Lauren. Bret Easton Ellis does a powerful job in illustrating a slice of society that is selfish, nihilistic, and narcissistic. His ability to write without a ‘period’ in a stream of consciousness manner is unparalleled. This is the first book of his I ever read, but if you’ve taken a peek at his other books, then this isn’t something you want to miss

Day 18: Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Palahniuk is certainly one of the best living storytellers alive today, and his unique methods of crafting narratives are ingenious and experimental. Many believe this debut novel by Palahniuk to be his seminal work. It is a dark, funny, twisted character study of dissociative personality disorder. Palahniuk paints a morbid and macabre illustration of the dual nature of our souls and created one of pop culture’s greatest villains: Tyler Durden. I loved the movie. The book was even better.

Day 17: Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

                                            

Probably the novel Jean Webster is best known for, “Daddy Long Legs” is not only a remarkably astute and compassionate children’s book, but it is also, on its own, a fine piece of literature. While quite a popular writer during her life, Jean Webster has since slipped into obscurity. Even her works, aside from this one, can hardly be found anywhere except online. Most libraries don’t have copies of her relatively unknown collection of writing.

“Daddy Long Legs” was written as an epistolary novel in the form of letters that a young orphaned girl writes to the mysterious benefactor who anonymously sponsors her education by sending her away to a girl’s college. Written in 1912, “Daddy Long Legs” is dessert sweet, full of astonishing depth, and admirably feministic for its time. Webster infuses her novel with a witty sense of humor that most modern-day children’s books simply lack. This is a great book to read. Check her out.

Day 16: The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

Is there a single person who hasn’t heard of “The Lord of the Rings” yet? This is the greatest literary feat in the fantasy genre, the grandfather of modern fantasy, and an essential piece of literature. The story modernized Elves, Dwarves, and created Hobbits. No modern fantasy story has been produced in the past half-century that wasn’t in some way inspired or influenced by Tolkien’s magnificent body of work. Being a linguistic professor, Tolkien constructed the several languages for use in his stories and had quite a fondness for etymologies and history. His devotion to his universe represents the first true feat of worldbuilding, and till today, Middle-Earth stands paramount.

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Book Review: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Why does he want to do this to me? Why does Kazuo Ishiguro want to make me cry for imaginary characters? The answer, for me at the very least, is that they aren’t make-believe. Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth are real – they are us, the readers, and they smell of our lives in all its complexities. I read this book twice. The first time took me roughly fourteen hours. About four days later, I picked it up again and finished in about six. Both times the fundamental truth that underpins our own is startlingly clear in the memories Kathy remembers: no matter how long we have, it is never, ever enough. We all want to defer completion. Wouldn’t it be nice to have another three years? Hell, why not swing for four?

Kathy H. presents her life without guile or angst. She is young, but she is old. In the end, it seems like she’s accepted her fate. She isn’t going to rage against the dying of the light. Instead Kathy meets her preordained fate with resigned acceptance. The story isn’t a tale of free will versus destiny, it is a study of life and living, and the incomprehensible difference between them; the nature of the human soul, love and longing, friendship, existence, and Time.

Ishiguro has incredible insight into the human condition. Without saying as much, he points out the certainty in our world that we would sacrifice the lives and liberty of artificial humans for the sake of preserving our own kind. I suppose the story is as much about the needs of the many over the wants of one, but I’ve never read anything else where I’ve wanted so badly for the wants of one to be so selfishly fulfilled. “Never Let Me Go” is dark and beautiful, powerful and moving. The ending, in particular, as the symbolism of Norfolk transcends being a place where the things we lose end up, to the fields being a tiny personal heaven for her, is unforgettable. I recommend this to anyone who has read his previous work, watched the movie adaptation, or just stumbles upon this review. It’s simply terrific.

Day 15: The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

The seminal work of one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time. This is his opus magnum, the rival of his “I, Robot” works, and the foundational work in SF literature for the past sixty years. The books explore the fleeting, yet heroic lives of the people of the Foundation, an organization charged with reducing the anarchy and chaos in a galaxy after the decline and fall of the Galactic Empire to a thousand years instead of thirty and usher in the rise of a Second Empire. The books are classics and the ideas and concepts are thrilling to envision. The Foundation Trilogy proves that Asimov and science-fiction are not mutually exclusive.

Book Review: Blockade Billy by Stephen King

Stephen King shows off his undying adoration for baseball in this sports novella. Written in the voice of a retired third-base coach, King demonstrates his mastery of storytelling, and his ingenuity with narrative and style. This is the macabre tale of the tragic William Blakely, who might have become the greatest baseball player, but has since been erased from the record books. The story drips of suspense, as natural for a King story, but unnaturally for King, the novella is substantially short. Perhaps because of its length, it is straightforward, though decently wrought. As a fan of the game, King evokes nostalgia for the way baseball was played in the fifties. “Blockade Billy” is probably a novella best enjoyed by Constant Readers of Stephen King or fans of the sport in general. However, what this story wins in style, it lacks in substance. The joy of being sweet and short also makes “Blockade Billy” relatively depthless in comparison to his weightier selection of works. New readers may want to immerse themselves in his classics before enjoying this treat.

The companion short story, “Morality,” is reminiscent of King’s short story masterpieces. It is a character study of a married couple with financial difficulties faced with a terrible opportunity. From reading his autobiographical work, “On Writing,” Chad Callahan’s teaching career and attempts to write a book seem to be taken directly out of King’s own past, another case of art imitating life. As I read, what kept popping up in the back of my head was that Twilight Zone episode, “Button, Button”, which might have been an influence. The moral dilemma is sufficiently engaging to surpass the titular story in entertainment.

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Audrey Niffenegger’s novel about a romance between Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire is not particularly original. It’s been done a thousand times before. What makes Niffenegger’s version of boy meets girl is the backdrop of time travel that she involves to articulate certain aspects of their relationship. Henry, you see, is a time traveler, but he isn’t like Hiro Nakamura from “Heroes” or H.G. Well’s unnamed time traveler. Henry has a genetic mutation that causes him to travel through time against his will. When he disappears he takes nothing with him, not even the fillings in his teeth. He is drawn to certain places, however, like the accident scene where his mother died. Another place is the meadow behind Clare’s house, where she meets him for the first time at the age of six, when he’s already 36.

The time travel motif serves many purposes in the story. It serves as a metaphor for couples that have to live with a handicap or disease. They shape their lives and their relationships around it. They live with it, just as Clare has to live, however agonizing it might be, with being the one left behind. The storyline deals with the consequences seamlessly and the exploration of their lives from each of their perspectives easily lends “The Time Traveler’s Wife” a seamless realism. When Henry first meets Clare from his perspective, she’s already an adult and she’s known him for years, but he’s completely at a loss as to who she is.

The rest is simply the rest of their lives and the layers of complex connections that weave through them and the people that populate their world. The characters are realistic and the anguish they feel is poignant. Underneath the clever writing is a deeper question pertaining to determinism and free will. Is Henry, having been to the future, able to choose differently in his past? Does Clare, knowing the future, have some control over actions she creates in her present? 

Niffenegger handles expressions of loss and enduring time with deft, meaningful prose. She’s a great writer and this is one of the best debut novels I’ve read in a while. It’s a great piece of literature that easily lends itself for comparison to other works. Clare is likened to Penelope from the “Odyssey,” a comparison noted by critics and other reviewers. Henry, on the other hand, seems inspired by Billy Pilgrim from “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut. If you like this one, I really recommend reading “Slaughterhouse-Five” too.

Day 14: Immoral by Brian Freeman

“Immoral” is a fast-paced, racy, hypersexual mystery novel. I liked it a lot. The characters were realistic and likable; the setting was gorgeously articulate, and the pacing was superb. I think the characters might have suffered from all being beautiful, because I don’t remember a single ugly one among them. If you want a quick, good read to digest, I definitely recommend this first standalone novel in a series by Brian Freeman.

Day 13: Pattern Recognition by William Gibson

 

“Pattern Recognition” gives a tantalizing look into the modern landscape of media and culture, and our fascination with entertainment mediums. Gibson delivers a masterful story that proves he has not only an intuitive grasp of the future of mankind, but an acute awareness of the present-day as it unfolds. This is definitely a must-read for any William Gibson fan.

Day 12: Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

         I know I haven’t been very consistent with this “book recommendation a day” routine that I’ve been trying to accomplish, but it was a doomed endeavour from the start. At least I do it sporadically. Today, however, I want to recommend Martin’s “Game of Thrones,” which is utterly and unquestionably fantastic. I’ve only very recently started dabbling in his works, but his fantasy epic is monumental and staggering. The breadth and depth of his stories and intricate plotlines dwarfs anything else I’ve ever read in fiction, let alone the genre.

            George RR Martin is famous for developing gritty, realistic fantasy that minimizes fantasy (at least in the first novel) and emphasize the stark reality of medieval times and the different shades of humanity in his characters. This is definitely a must-read for readers interested in dark, epic, realistic fantasy.

Day 11: Peter Pan and Wendy by JM Barrie

J.M. Barrie’s work tells the iconic story of Peter Pan, a mischevious young boy who can fly, Wendy Darling and her brothers, the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, the pirate Captain Hook, and their adventures and interactions on the island of Neverland. The story was first portrayed in a play in 1904 before being adapted into a novel in 1911. Because Barrie continued to revise portions of the play for years, the novel only tells one version.

“Peter Pan and Wendy” is a wonderful story in the vein of “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Little Prince”. Barrie has crafted unforgettable characters, a beloved story, and world that transcends the imagination. His story continues to impress, awe, and touch readers. This is undoubtedly one of my favorite childhood stories, even though I first read it rather late in my childhood.

The version in the image above is one produced by the Folio Society. This is perhaps, short of a first edition, one of the best copies available. As expensive as it is, the artwork is stunning, the binding and development gorgeous. So if you find it somewhere, pull out your wallets.

Day 10: Vanishing and other stories by Deborah Willis

An intricately woven collection of short stories, Willis portrays a whole canvas of human lives, and all their entangled interactions. A recurring motif appears to be the complexities in the relationship between siblings and families. I was introduced to Deborah Willis’ book in a literature course in college. I enjoyed her stories, the brush of her writing, and the depth of her content. Fortunately, I was able to find myself a signed copy. She’s also a local author in Victoria, where I live.

According to Alice Munro, “the emotional range and depth of these stories, the clarity and deftness is astonishing,” while the Canada Council for the Arts calls Vanishing and other stories a book that “startles, exhilarate and radiate with piercing insights.”

Day 9: The Killing Floor by Lee Child

The first novel in Child’s brilliant collection of novels about an ex-military police named Jack Reacher, who left the army to travel and explore the American landscape, tied to no one and nothing. He carries his toothbrush and his wallet and the clothes on his back. Stephen King loves this series almost as much as I do. It is pure escapism and man-fiction. You’ll get hooked on this series, trust me.

Day 8: Neuromancer by William Gibson

Gibson’s debut novel is a revolutionary work that epitomizes futuristic science fiction. His vision of the future is more vivid, gritty, and realized than cinematic Star Wars. “Neuromancer” is the winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Philip K. Dick Awards. It absolutely permeated the collective consciousness of western culture in such a seamless manner that we don’t even know the origins were from here. Interesting side note, a porn star in the 90s, created a porn parody of “Neuromancer.” Just saying…

Day 7: Still Alice by Lisa Genova

This debut novel absorbs the author’s years of experience to mould a realistic portrayal of a heartbreaking disease. The process of mental deterioration bewilders Alice and will change the way you view your life. I came away from this book thinking about my years ahead and dreading the possibility that it could all slip away from me like sand in a sieve.

Book Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

This is a terrific and terrifying tour-de-force in the vast plains of culture, mystery, and journalism. Larsson’s first novel in the Millennium Trilogy is a stunning tale of an age-old mystery and an investigation into the bowels of corruption and intrigue that permeate a wealthy Swedish family. I found the novel slow to get rolling. It takes such a considerable amount of time for the characters to move along that I’m reminded of how it feels to wake up in the morning: the long lethargic stretch, followed by a pause, and then a slow staggering out of the bedroom. I won’t spoil any details, except to say that financial journalist Mikael Blomkvist is convinced to take on a job by Henrik Vanger to ghostwrite his autobiography and solve the locked-room on an island mystery of the disappearance of his niece, Harriet Vanger in the sixties. He is teamed up with the antisocial, problematic, and unquestionably brilliant hacker Lisbeth Salander, the girl with the dragon tattoo.

                                 

I don’t know how much time Larsson spent developing the central mystery that envelops the life of Henrik Vanger, an obsession that totally eclipses everything else, but it is an intriguing one and tasteful in its execution. For Henrik, Harriet is dead, even if her body was never recovered, nor the method of her death proven. The questions that remain for him are: who, why, and how? Those questions are dissected in the novel through the eyes of Mikael, and later through his partner, Lisbeth. It was a treat to watch Larsson handle his characters, shaping them into realistic and distinct persons.

Larsson’s attention to detail is superb, the trait any mystery or thriller author requires. Needless to say, I was impressed by the level of detail and analysis that went into the investigation part of Harriet’s disappearance.

Like I said before, this book is somewhat slow. That is probably my only grievance, but it isn’t much of one at all. During my first read-through, it seemed to take countless pages before any real tension; any drama began to seep through the pages. In fact, Lisbeth and Mikael are on two wildly different and completely disconnected paths until quite late into the novel when Lisbeth helps tackle his case. The author also spends a lot of time giving exposition to relevant history and to a host of terminology and processes in the financial world and technology.

Though Larsson takes his time to build up the story, the suspense is gripping in the latter half of the novel. Larsson indeed breathes a potent vibrancy into his writing. Translated into English from Swedish, the prose retains some non-americanisms that ring in the ear. Just from reading aloud the dialogue and the supporting texts, the prose is decidedly euro-centric and quite refreshing. Most of the novels I’ve consumed are North American or English, and though I’m quite new to the game of Scandinavian thrillers, I have to say I like what I’ve read so far.

Book Review: Wobegon Boy by Garrison Keillor

Many readers, I suspect, read “Wobegon Boy” after cultivating a heartfelt endearment to Keillor’s radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion.” I found this novel in a thrift shop after the cover art caught my eye. It stood on my shelf for years before I finally came around to reading it last summer. “Wobegon Boy” chronicles the life and times of John Tollefson, who leaves Lake Wobegon to make a life for himself in Red Cliff, NY. He meets and falls in love with Alida Freeman, visits home, struggles to fulfill his dreams, and along the way we are treated to a cornucopia of tales about his ancestors and family.

Perhaps any other writer attempting this style would fail to capture the sepia-toned nostalgia and compelling absorption of Keillor’s structuring and frequent usage of tangential narratives, but Keillor never misses a beat. John’s fictional life is as familiar as any real person I’ve ever met and Keillor’s vision brings an abundance of color and dimension to the story John tells and, in turn, learns about his family. At over 300 pages, Keillor has crafted an entertaining, thoughtful, and wonderful story about life, love, romance, family, and history.

Keillor weaves parallels and contrasts seamlessly. For example, there are parallels between Alida’s historical research into a famous Norwegian and John’s anecdotes about Norwegian heritage; and his romanticism, a tad bit forward for a Lutheran, is familiar to how his father courted his mother, ‘I want to be next to you for the rest of my life’. John, despite escaping Lake Wobegon, never truly leaves it. He still entertains the notion, if only subconsciously and peripherally, that the folk back home will recognize his achievements. In fact, John still carries his Lutheran upbringing with him, and the Lake Wobegon ideals of his childhood never disappear from the palate of his adulthood.

Through our narrator, Keillor expresses insight into love, marriage, and the inadvertent silliness of being politically correct. In his benevolent way, Keillor addresses how the frictions of living together can diminish a romance. But neither the author, nor John, shy away from marriage. John wants nothing more than to marry Alida, who is skeptical of that old tradition, and fears it will sour their relationship. But the book offers a light of hope when Alida, despite her reservations, agrees to marry John, after realizing how much she love him; her advice is both practical and heartfelt: “Never get so angry at me that you can’t remember how it was today.”

This is a terrific novel from a master writer. I recommend this novel, not just to fans of “The Prairie Home Companion”, but to anyone who enjoys an absorbing, cozy read on how to deal with people and life itself.

Book Review: Final Crisis by Grant Morrison

First off, look at that cover. Just how striking is that? I predict it’ll be quite memorable in twenty or thirty years. Of course, the stance itself is an allusion to “Crisis on Infinite Earths” where Superman is carrying Supergirl’s dead body. Only now it’s one of his dearest friends in his arms.

There are times when the whole interrelated aspect of the DC Universe appearing in the pages of “Final Crisis” works for me. It’s breathtaking in its scope, certainly, but at times it seems too disorganized and chaotic. The ending itself is a throwback to a dozen characters from corners of DC Comics I have only the vaguest idea of. Also, there doesn’t seem to be very much direct action here. “Final Crisis” is an exercise of tone, setting, and atmosphere. There is little room in the cramped pages for an exploration of the more traditional, and perhaps integral, aspects: characters and plot.

Nevertheless, the story is wildly and momentously enjoyable. Morrison is an expert that creating a dark, gritty atmosphere and for filling a scene with tension and drama. He is a master of an epic scale, as seen when Dan Turpin succumbs to Darkseid’s influence coupled with his terrifying internal monologue and when Superman thunders back to Earth as the skies burn red to claim Batman’s corpse from Darkseid’s bunker.

Most issues end in a cliffhanger of sorts and they only add to the building tension that underlies the story. I only wish we could see more of the action that goes on instead of seeing two-or three panel snapshots and moving on. It’s like taking the 12-hour “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and clipping it into a single hour movie, beginning to end. It almost feels like a trailer.

But for any diehard DC Comics fan, I recommend reading “Final Crisis” and letting your mind (and some time for the reading to settle) decide how you feel about it. This was certainly a hit-and-miss for others, and my views seemed to fluctuate around for a while. I can understand the disgruntled views towards this book. Of the Crisis events, “Final Crisis” is not the best, but I think there is value in reading it and studying it to see just where DC is today and perhaps what tone their stories are going to take tomorrow. I could also argue that the other value in reading this is to evaluate the general ‘incoherence’ of “Final Crisis” and compare that to his other credited titles. Generally, I think this falls somewhere in the middle. “Batman RIP” is still a harder mess to follow.

I only write this review because I’m almost certain my opinions about it have settled down now. Oh and for anybody who liked Final Crisis, or are exploring the DC Universe, I recommend “Identity Crisis,” “Infinite Crisis,” Blackest Night,” “Final Crisis: Revelations,” and “Crisis on Infinite Earths” for material in the same vein. Read it in order of publication and you can see the evolution of the Crisis events since they launched their first one.

Book Review: The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks

“The Elfstones of Shannara” functions better than “Swords” in terms of showcasing Brooks personality and strengthening the differences between him and Tolkien. While this chapter in his fantasy saga does not pull Terry Brooks out of his predecessor’s shadow, it does take a step in the right direction. It seems strange, almost, reading a book decades after it’s published, and then reviewing it almost a year after. But the fact that I still recall most of the characters and most of the stepping stones that form its plot speak to my fondness for this story. Published in 1982, “Elfstones” expands the Shannara universe. While the first novel journeyed north, this one explores west, just as the next sequel, “Wishsong,” goes east.

The young Omsford hero is Wil, the grandson of Shea, whose journey to master the unpredictable, untamable, and immeasurable power of the Elfstones and escort Amberle Elessedil to the Ellcrys form the pivotal arc of the novel. Yet I would argue that the two Elessedils’ personal struggles are more worthy of attention. Over the course of the story, Amberle learns of the terrible sacrifice she has to make and through her, Brooks studies the age old balance between personal freedom and a far-reaching destiny. It is the choice all heroes have to make and of course Amberle emerges true, but the cost is dire and when Wil feels gut-wrenching despair at what is lost, so do we feel it; not because Brooks tells us to (I’m telling you to, dammit), but because we’ve all lost someone close to our hearts, or at least, we can imagine what that would be like.

In hindsight, I doubt Wil and Amberle ever entertained romantic feelings for one another. But their chemistry for one another and the intricacy of love that emerges from taking another being’s life and swearing to protect it with your own transcends romance. They were bound in life and I think Brooks nailed it honestly and perfectly.

The other significant hero in this narrative is Ander Elessedil. He is the younger, underwhelming Prince of the Elves. He has a strained relationship with his brother Arion, a close one with his niece Amberle, and an unfulfilled one with his father Eventine. The Elves serve as wardens of the Ellcrys, a magical seal over a prison dimension containing demons from the Age of Faerie. As the Ellcrys weakens and demons pour out, the Elves muster their armies for war. The battle is narrated fluently, as I’ve come to expect of Brooks. When Arion is killed in battle, Ander is thrust into a leadership position, and he forces himself to act as his brother would. Fake it till you make it, it would seem. Against the desperate mood of the war in the backdrop as slowly, but surely, their Elven forces lose ground and numbers, Arion becomes a capable military leader and a beacon of hope for his people. He develops a friendship with the formidable but kind Stee Jans, the leader of the Legion Free Corps, one of his few confidants.

The story is gripping, the characters memorable, the tone somber. Wil and Amberle’s harrowing flight is fraught with death and sorrow from beginning to end while Ander’s warfront captures the dark mood and desperate perspective of real-world combat. This is easily one of Terry Brooks’ darker novels and one of his finest additions to an epic universe in the multiverse of fantasy.

Brooks creates more fully-developed characters. His trademark characterization arc of having a doubtful, insecure character emerge heroic occurs once again. But I don’t say it with an ironic twist of the mouth. When it shows on the page, when the reader sees it coming, Brooks molds with care and deviates from the standard with certain characters, giving life to them without agonizing repetition.

Book Review: The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

                Terry Brooks’ first novel, “The Sword of Shannara,” fulfills most of the tenets of an old-fashioned fantasy story and the structure of Western classical mythology. In many ways, the adventures of Shea Ohmsfold and the company from Culhaven is analogous to Frodo Baggins’ adventure with the Fellowship out of Rivendale. That Tolkien heavily influenced Brook’s narrative is without question; but that doesn’t detract from my assessment that Brooks is an excellent writer.

                Brooks is a master world-builder and his greatest talent is capturing the right words to paint a canvas in the reader’s mind, illustrating every scene with powerful and distinguished clarity. We enter the Four Lands of Brooks’ debut novel, immersed in every excruciatingly detailed scene, as would characters that have never left their own backyard. Yet as with many first-time writers, Brooks is still finding his groove and his descriptions are often long, often uneconomical. Streams of paragraphs seem to flow down the page before any action or dialogue even takes place. But his ability to paint scenes serves him well in depicting the climactic Battle of Tyrsis. Brooks weaves story threads gracefully, building up dramatic tension, and culminating in a battle that his writing portrays as both epic in scope and tragic for those involved.

                In his later novels, over time, Brooks becomes more adept at characterizations and diversifying their point-of-views. In “Sword”, some characters, though not all, suffer from a lack of inner complexities and unstrained development. My favourite characters are arguably the most original and well-developed. Panamon Creel is the brave, if morally ambiguous, rogue who despite being a thief, is anchored to the side of good by his code of honor.  In his reluctance to accept a higher calling in being Shea’s protector and companion, he reminds me of the swashbuckling Han Solo from “A New Hope.” Like Han, Panamon rises beyond his own expectations and is selflessly transformed by his heroic actions to serve the greater good. I liked that he dresses much in red, a traditional color for heroes in Japanese culture, foreshadowing his role late in the novel. His mute Troll companion, Keltset Mallicos, is stoic and introverted. He is the embodiment of integrity and a steadfast will. Unlike vast numbers of his race who’ve surrendered to the Warlock Lord, Keltset chooses exile rather than be converted to the ranks of the Skull Kingdom, even after the rest of his family was slaughtered, and because of his strength of will, his tongue was cut. Keltset demonstrates that his actions forever speak louder than words. These two are Brooks’ most complex characters in “Sword of Shannara,” because unlike the others who wear everything out in the open, these two are layered in their emotional intricacies and multifarious traits.

                While reading “Sword of Shannara” will likely remind you of “Lord of the Rings,” I recommend this epic narrative to anyone who loves modern fantasy. Terry Brooks is a master at work. Near the last third of “Shannara,” Brooks’ narrative and style begin to identify themselves, and we see the seeds of growth from a writer whose skills certain flourish into creating some of the most entertaining and enduring fantasy stories ever written.

Day 6: The Road by Cormac McCarthy

I’ve never read this book, nor have I had the chance to watch the movie starring Viggo Mortensen. What I do know about it is that it is set in a post-apocalyptic future ravaged by an unspecified cataclysm that has ended civilization. The story focuses on the journey of a father and his young son over a period of several months. The novel was awarded the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction in 2006. Friends have told me it’s both harrowing and bleak. I love heartbreaking stories so this is on my list of books to read. It should be on yours as well.

Chuck Palahniuk Interview

 

Chuck is a terrific writer of trasgressional fiction. I saw a bit of this interview and thought I'd share. His new novel, "Damned," came out last October. Check it out.

Day 5: Identity Crisis by Brad Meltzer

            This is the first graphic novel on the list and probably one of my favorites. It changes the tone of the DC universe and unleashes massive consequences that affect multiple titles. Meltzer produces a gripping mystery story tweaked with obsession, tragedy, and love. The twist ending is something no one could really have guessed or expected. It’s out of left field. But every beat that leads up to it is superb. This comic contains a variety of surprises that left me engaged and compelled to continue. There’s multiple storylines across the board here but none of them feel contrived or superficial. Batman’s fundamental investigative question, “Who benefits?” epitomizes the underlying theme of the novel as various characters’ relationships are strengthened in the wake of the opening crime.

Last year, I purchased a hardcover copy with the Michael Turner variant cover. It’s a beautiful cover, as expected of the late artist. And in October 2011, DC released an oversized Absolute Edition of “Identity Crisis.” I haven’t gotten a chance to peruse it yet, but I definitely want that for my collection. O Money, where art thou? So whether you like DC Comics, whether you even like superheroes, I strongly recommend “Identity Crisis.”